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“What other Sealian other than me and Captain Hurley work for the Skylian crown?”

Valda squeezed her jaw and faced Maris.

“Valda, I’ve been jumping from job to job since my father died when I was twelve. When I got the job, it was a miracle if I was treated or paid fairly. I was lucky to find this job. Not everyone is as lucky as I am…” Maris paused and sighed. “If you can call me lucky.”

“My mother blamed your people for my father’s death. I think that sentiment rubbed off on some Skylians.”

“That could explain a lot of things. But I think with a little help, and maybe someone to tell them what the correct road is, we could either go back to the Sea Kingdom or try to make a life here in New Agenor.”

Valda leaned back on the sofa. For someone with no connection to her people, Maris seemed to understand what they were going through. What surprised her was that a simple conversation with Isen could make her so passionate about her people.

A sliver of jealousy settled in Valda’s stomach before she rubbed her hand against her linen pants. “I see your conversation with Captain Hurley was deep.”

“It was interesting. He told me a lot of things and… His mother died when he and his twin sister were making the trip here. He was just thirteen, can you just imagine how horrible and scary it must’ve been for children their age to make it here all alone?” Maris sighed and squeezed Valda’s thigh. “He was kind enough to tell me so many things. He wanted to continue our conversation some other time.”

Valda swallowed hard. Was Captain Hurley smitten with Maris? Did he, perhaps, think that she could be his mate? If Maris wasn’t twenty-one yet, she wouldn’t be able to identify who her soulmate was, but Captain Hurley was well into his thirties. He wasn’t mated, and he was a very handsome man.

Could it be that Captain Hurley saw something in Maris?

“And you agreed?”

“Of course.”

Valda nodded, covering Maris’s hand on her thigh with her own. She was curious and knew that her rashness might not sit well with Maris at the moment, but she just needed to know.

“Do you like Captain Hurley?”

The sudden silence didn’t sit well with Valda. But as she shifted to Maris, the young woman answered hesitantly. “He is a very charming man. It was like talking to an old friend.”

Old friend. Valda stiffened. She raised an eyebrow and waved for Maris to continue.

“He made me feel like I never missed anything at all being raised here and all.”

“Did you… feel attracted to him?”

Maris scoffed, pulling her hand away from Valda scooting over. “Valda, really?”

“I have my reasons. I remember what he looked like. That’s why I am asking.” Valda squared her shoulders and asked again. “Did you find him attractive?”

Maris stuttered and then huffed. “Yes, I did.”

Valda took a deep breath just as Maris got closer. She squeezed her soft body to her hard one as Maris’s small hands touched her thighs again. Maris rubbed soft circles onto her leg, not knowing what the simple caress was doing to Valda. She wanted Maris near, she wanted to feel her body and listen to her voice, and make sure that she wasn’t lying.

“Can I ask you a personal question?”

“What is it?” Maris didn’t sound angry, or annoyed, but rather comfortable and slightly curious.

Yet, Valda hesitated to ask her question. Maris didn’t belong to her. At least not as she would like to, but that didn’t diminish the burning need to know everything about her. If she was attracted to men, she wanted to know. “Have you ever slept with a man before?”

Maris tensed and her breath hitched. She moved against Valda, probably looking for a way to avoid answering altogether, but Valda would have none of it. Her answer, whether it was yes or no, didn’t matter, and it wouldn’t make her think less of Maris. She simply wanted to know because Valda was going to ruin her for anyone else. She would make sure Maris craved her touch alone.

After a quiet second, Maris answered with a quiet, “Yes.”

“You’ve fucked men before?” Valda asked, cupping Maris’s face. She felt Maris nod and a deep burning fire settled in Valda’s lower stomach. Jealousy. She could never fuck her as a man could—

Wait.

Valda opened her eyes, her face turning to where she thought her closet was. Her upper lip twitched mischievously before squeezing Maris’s jaw, earring a soft whimper.